Free-throw-Hardeman Advances

JACKSON, Tenn. (March 18, 2010) – No. 13 Freed-Hardeman University used an 11-0 run and a 28-4 free-throw attempt advantage in the second half to advance from the opening round of the 30^th Annual NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship tournament with a 73-64 victory over No.25 Lubbock Christian University Thursday night from Oman Arena.

The Lady Lions 11-0 run started with LCU holding a 46-42 advantage with 13:48 remaining in the second half to match the Lady Chaps largest lead in the game. LCU went six minutes without a field-goal and went 0-of-7 from the field during the Lady Lions run.  The Lady Chaps found themselves trailing 53-46 after the run, which at the time was the game’s biggest lead.  Prior to the offensive outburst, there were seven lead changes and the score was tied on 12 occasions in a back-and-fourth game in which neither team had more than a four-point lead.

Ashley Coggins nailed a three-pointer for LCU to cap a 9-3 ensuing run and the Lady Chaps cut the deficit to 56-55 with 4:35 remaining.  The Lady Lions then pulled away out-scoring the Lady Chaps 17-9 in the final 4:04 with their final 13 points coming from the free-throw line.  FHU made their final field goal with 3:31 left and attempted just one field goal the rest of the way.  LCU could only get three-pointers from Brittany Hampton and Brandi Raindl in the final two minutes as their only field goals while attempting to rally.

The game was tied 33-33 at halftime.  The Lady Chaps out-rebounded FHU 23-12 in the opening half with nine offensive rebounds.  April Ehlers led the Lady Chaps with eight points in the opening half, as they shot 48.1% from the field in the half (13/27).  Natalie Shumpert paced FHU in the opening half with 12 of her 18 points tallied in the half.  They out-scored LCU 15-7 in points off turnovers after forcing 12 in the half.

Hampton led LCU with a game-high 21 points, with 16 tallied in the second half of play.  She was the lone Lady Chap in double-figures.  The Lady Chaps out-scored Freed-Hardeman 40-26 in the paint and held the defending NAIA Player of the Year, Jana Cross, to a ten-point performance.  The Lady Lions were led by a 19-point performance from Tara Deatheridge, and Maria Bagwell completed a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Lady Lions.  FHU out-scored LCU 24-7 from the free-throw line in the game and 21-2 in the second half.  Twenty-one of the Lady Lions 40 second-half points were registered from the free-throw line.

While FHU improves to 27-6 on the season and advances to the Sweet Sixteen of the NAIA tournament, the Lady Chaps have their season come to a close with a record of 19-12.  It was just the second meeting all-time between the two teams, with the last coming in 2008 with FHU ending the Lady Chaps season at the national championship tournament. The loss closes out the Lady Chaps seventh consecutive trip to Oman Arena, and they are now 8-7 all-time in Jackson.  The season also brings a close to the college careers of Coggins and Raindl, who saw each of their four seasons come to a close at Oman Arena.